Golf club



June 21, 1960 Q- 0. STEVENS GOLF CLUB Filed Oct. 13, 1958 INVENTOR. Q.0. 57'5- vz-lvs J 2522222225.as?d

United States Patent GOLF CLUB Quinn 0. Stevens, 1144 SW. 66th St.,Oklahoma City, Okla.

Filed Oct. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 766,737

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-812) This invention relates, as indicated, toimprovements in golf clubs, and more particularly, but not by way oflimitation, to an improved golf club of the type known as a wood.

The designs of golf clubs, other than the putter, have changed verylittle since the game of golf has become a popular sport. With thepresent concept of golf club construction, each type of club generallycomprises an elongated shaft having a head portion rigidly secured onthe lower end of the shaft and a grip portion on the upper end of theshaft. Heretofore, all woods and irons have been constructed in such a.manner that the shaft is secured to the extreme rear end of the golfclub head; whereas the striking area of the head, i.e., the portion ofthe head the golf ball should be contacted, is located in substantiallythe central portion of the head. As a result, a golf ball is usuallystruck with a portion of the head spaced a substantial distance from thepoint of connection of the shaft to the head, which tends to turn ortwist the golf club, and requires the player to maintain a substantialgrip on the golf club shaft to maintain the striking face of the club atright angles to the desired path of flight of the ball. This tendency ofthe golf club to twist when the ball is struck is most prominent whenusing woods, due to the longer shafts of the woods and the tendency ofthe player to strike the ball harder when swinging a wood.

The only appreciable differences in golf clubs presently in use are inthe weights and the lengths of the clubs. Some players desire heaviergolf clubs than are usually available, and other players desire longergolf clubs than are usually available. It is desirable to control theweights and lengths of the clubs, and particularly the woods, at thelocations where the golf clubs are purchased and tried by the players,such as at professional 'golfers shops. At the present time, the weightsof the woods are usually controlled by a lead or babbit :slug pouredinto a shallow bore formed in the bottom face of the club head. Thisslug may be replaced to provide the desired weight for the golf clubhead. However, almost all woods are provided with a base plate securedover the bottom face of the head, and it is necessary to remove andreplace this base plate when varying the weight of the club. At thepresent time, a player has no practical way to vary the length of a golfclub.

The present invention contemplates a novel golf club constructionwherein the shaft is secured to the head at a point which issubstantially closer to the portion of the club used to strike a golfball, such that the club has a minimum tendency to twist as a ball isstruck, yet the shaft is extended from the club head at substantiallythe same angle as presently utilized in golf club constructions toprevent the necessity of a golfer changing his swing when using a clubconstructed in accordance with the present invention. The presentinvention also contemplates a wooden golf club head construction-wherein the weight of the club may be changed in a minimum of time bythe addition or removal of the desired amount of weight from the clubhead, with the weight being added or subtracted from the central portionof the club head in alignment with the center of gravity of the clubhead, such that the required swing of the golf club will not be changedby a variation in the amount of weight in the head. This inventionfurther templates a replaceable grip which may be easily slipped on andoff of a golf club shaft to control the length of the golf club, and yetthe grip may be fastened on the golf club shaft against either a turningmovement or an endwise movement of the grip on the shaft to provide apractical and useful golf club of the desired length.

An important object of this invention is to provide a golf club whichmay be fitted tothe individual needs or desires of a player.

Another object of this invention is to provide a golf club which willhave a minimum tendency to twist when the golf club strikes a ball withthe desired portion of the golf club.

-A further object of this invention is to provide a golf clubconstruction wherein the weight of the club may be changed as desired,in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort.

Another object of this invention is to provide a golf club constructionwherein the length of the club may be changed with a minimum of eifortand in a minimum length of time, without changing the normal operationof the club.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a golf club whichis simple in construction, may be economically manufactured, and whichwill have a long service life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from thefollowing detailed description, when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the lower ortion of a golf clubconstructed in accordance with this lnvention. i 7

F'gure 2 is a continuation from the upper end of Fig. l, and is anelevational view of the upper portion of a golf club constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the central portion of thehead of the golf club shown in Fig. 1, as taken along lines 3-3 of Fig.1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the grip portion of a clubconstructed in accordance with this invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figs. 1 and 2,reference character 6 generally designates a golf club comprising anelongated shaft 8 having a head 14 on the lower end thereof and a grip12 on the upper end thereof. The shaft 8 is normally of tubularconstruction and decreased in diameter, stepwise, toward .the lower endthereof, although it will be understood that any desired shaftconstruction may be utilized.

The head 10 is formed out of wood, and has a shape generally conformingto present day golf clubs, with a substantially fiat bottom portion 14and a tapered upper surface 16 extending generally downward from thestriking face 13 to the trailing face 20, as shown most clearly in Fig.3. The usual striking plate 22 is secured over the central portion ofthe striking face 18 by a plurality of suitable screws 24 to provide asurface for contacting a golf ball (not shown) which will have a longservice Patented June 21, 1960 life and will have the required physicalproperties to obtain the maximum distance of flight of the golf ball.Also, a metal base plate 26 is preferably secured over at least aportion of the lower face 14 of the head jto prevent damage to the headthrough repeated usage. Further, the forward end or toe 28 of the head10 is normally rounded and extended upwardly and forwardly; whereas therear end 30 of the head is rounded with a smaller radius than theforward end 28.

A bore or socket 32 extends from the top 16 of the head 10 downwardlyand forwardly through the head to tightly receive the extreme lower endportion of the elon gated shaft 8. The socket 32 is positioned betweenrear end 30 of the headand a vertical plane 34 passing through thecenter of gravity (not shown) of the head 10, with the lower end of thesocket 32 terminating in proximity with, but rearwardly of, the verticalplane 34 passing through the center of gravity of the head. The upperend of the socket 32 (at the top surface 16 of the Wood) is positionedabout half way between the rear end 30 of the head and the verticalplane 34. It will also be observed in Fig. 1, that the striking plate 22is centered with respect to the center of gravity of the head and that aproperly hit golf ball is contacted by at least some portion of thestriking plate 22. A tubular and tapered projection 36 is formed on thetop 16 of the head 10 adjacent the rear end 30 of the head around theshaft 8. It will thus be observed that the opening through theprojection 36 is in alignment with the socket 32'to tightly receive theadjacent portion of the shaft 8. Suitable wrapping 38 is secured aroundthe upper end portion of the projection 36 and around the adjacentportion of the shaft 8 to provide a neat appearance and facilitate thesecuring of the head 10 on the shaft 8. Also, a suitable set screw (notshown) may be extended transversely through the projection 36 intocontact with the shaft 8 to funther secure thehead 10 on the shaft. Itwill be understood that the projection 36 is normally formed with theremainder of the head 10 and is a part of the head to provide a strongconstruction and eifectively absorb blows imposed on the head10 when agolf ball is struck with the club. ,.,As shown in Fig. 3, a bore 40 isformed in the head 10 from the trailingface 20 of the head toward thestriking face 18 in alignment with the center of gravity of the head toreceive a cylindrical slug 42 of a suitable weighting material, such aslead or babbit. A counter-bore isjformed ,atrthe outer end of the bore40 to receive an internally threaded sleeve 46. The sleeve 46 ispreferably pressed into the counter-bore 44 and receives a threaded plug48 which is used to hold the slug 42 in the bore '40. The plug 48 isprovided with a suitable socket 50 to facilitate the threading andunthreading of the plug from the sleeve 46. The slug 42 is preferably ofa size to provide a sliding fit thereof in the bore 40, such that theslug may be removed and replaced easily and quickly to control theweight of the golf club 6. Also, it will be observed that the weight 42is positioned in alignment with the vertical place 34- and the center ofthe striking plate 22, such that the weight will be the most effectivein increasing the striking force of the club 6.

In a commercial embodiment of the present invention, -a plurality of thegrips 12 will be provided with varying lengths to provide the shaft 8with the desired length for any particular player, as will be described.Each grip 12 comprises a rigid material sleeve 52 (preferably formed outof a light Weight material, such as aluminum) and having an innerdiameter of a size to provide a sliding fit of the sleeve 52 on theupper end portion of the shaft 8. A suitable grip material 54, such asleather, is secured around the circumference of the sleeve 52,throughout substantially the entire length of the sleeve, to provide anarea which may be easily held and gripped by a player. The grip material54 may be secured on the sleeve .52 and provided with perforations, asindicated in- Fig. 2, to provide a roughened surface whichmay be grippedby the player. It will also be observed that the wall thickness of thesleeve 52 is increased from the lower toward the upper end of thesleeve, such that the grip 12 will be tapered outwardly toward the upperend of the club, as in present day golf club constructions.

The lower end 56 of the sleeve 52 is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced dowel pins 58 extending downwardly around theshaft 8 into matingbores 69 provided in the upper end of a ring 62secured on the shaft 8. The ring 62 is rigidly secured on the shaft 8 inany suitable manner, such as by shrinking the ring on the shaft, wherebythe ring 62 will be retained in a fixed position and will neither turnon the shaft 8 not move lengthwise on the shaft. Any desired number ofdowel pins 58 and mating bores 60 may be provided to assure that thesleeve 52 may be easily assembled on the shaft 8 and the sleeve 52 willnot turn on the shaft 8 when the dowel pins 58 are engaged in the bores60. I have found that it is desirable to provide one pair ofdiametrically opposed dowel pins '58 and two pairs of diametricallyopposed bores 69 to facilitate the insertion of the dowel pins 58 in thering 62 when a new grip 12 is being assembled on'the'shaft 8.

The upper 'end '64 of the sleeve 52 is preferably squared-off normal tothe longitudinal axis of the sleeve to receive the enlarged head '66 ofan elongated bolt 68. The bolt 68 is threaded into a plug 70 which is inturn rigidly secured in the upper end portion of the shaft 8 in anysuitable manner, such as by being pressed .into the end of the shaft.The head 66 of the bolt 68 is also preferably knurled to facilitate thethreading and unthreading of the bolt from the plug 70. It will beapparent thatwhe'n 'the'bolt 68 is threaded tightly into the plug 70,the head 66 contacts the outer end 64 of the sleeve 52 and retains thedowel pins 58 in the mating bores 60 to rigidly secure the grip 12 onthe shaft 8.

As previously indicated, the grip 12 is preferably provided in variouslengths to control the effective length of the shaft ,8. In the smallestsize of grip 12, the sleeve 52 will be of a length to position the upperend 64 thereof even with the upper end of the'shaft 8 when the lower end'56 of the respective sleeve is in contact with the ring 62. The bolt'68 will then be threaded completely in the plug '70 to retain the head66 firmly in contact with the upper end 64 of the sleeve 52. When alonger shaft 8 is desired, another grip 12 will be used having a longersleeve 52. In this latter event, the upper end 64 of the sleeve willextend upwardly above the upper end of the shaft 8 when the lower end ofthe sleeve is in contact with the ring 62. The bolt 68 will then be onlypartially threaded in the plug '70 to bring the head 66 into contactwith the upper end 64 of the sleeve. However, since the sleeve 52slidingly fits on the upper end portion of the shaft '8, and the lowerend 56 of the sleeve is anchored to the ring 62 by the dowel'pins 58 andcooperating bores 60, the sleeve will be held firmly on the shaft andwill effectively increase the length of the shaft.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present'invention'provides a novel golf club which may be easily andconveniently adapted to the needs of an individual player. The weight ofthe club may be controlled as may be desired by controlling the size ofthe slug 42, withthe slug beingeasily replaceable in the head, andwithout the necessity of removing the base plate 26 of "the head. Itwill also be apparent that the weight is added or subtracted from thehead of the golf club in the vertical plane in which a golf ball isordinarily hit to provide the maximum benefit in varying theweight ofthe club. The length of the club may be easily adapted to the needs ofan individual player by simply replacing the grip-portion of the clubwith another grip portion of the appropriate length. The grip portion iseasily re- ;moved fromthe shaft of the club by simply unthreading thebolt 6 8,and' sliding the grip off of 'the upper end of the shaft.Conversely, a new grip is easily installed by telescoping the grip overthe upper end of the shaft; inserting the dowel pins 58 in the bores 60,and threading the bolt 68 back into the plug 70 until the head 66 of thebolt firmly contacts the upper end of the sleeve portion of the grip. Itwill be further apparent by extending the lower end of the shaft throughthe head of the club between the rear end of the head and the center ofgravity of the head, a minimum twist will be imposed on the club when agolf ball is struck with the correct portion of the club head.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts orelements as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in thedrawings, it being understood that changes may be made in the preciseembodiment disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A golf club, comprising an elongated shaft having an upper end and alower end, a head secured on the lower end of the shaft, a rigidmaterial sleeve on the upper end portion of the shaft having an upperend and a lower end, said sleeve having an inner diameter of a size toprovide a sliding fit of the sleeve on the upper end portion of theshaft, a grip wrapping on the sleeve, a ring rigidly secured around theshaft in spaced relation from the upper end of the shaft, said ringhaving circumferentially spaced bores in the end thereof nearest to theupper end of the shaft, a pair of pins secured on the lower end of saidsleeve in positions to mate with said bores and prevent turning of thesleeve on the shaft, and means for holding the lower end of the sleeveagainst said ring.

2. A golf club as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper end portion ofsaid shaft is tubular and said holding means comprises a plug rigidlysecured in the upper end of the shaft and a bolt threaded into said plughaving a head of a size to contact the upper end of the sleeve when thebolt is threaded into the plug.

3. A golf club as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has an upperend and a lower end and is increased in wall thickness from its lowerend to its upper end to taper the grip material applied around thesleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,518,316 Ellingham Dec. 9, 1924 1,575,364 Hodgkins Mar. 2, 19262,088,095 Sargent et al. July 27, 1937 2,876,010 Hugman Mar. 3, 1959

